China　is　rich　in　rare　earth　and　alkaline　earth　elements.　This　paper　introduced　the　applications　of　rare　earth　and　alkaline　earth　elements　to　the　heat　resistant　magnesium　alloys,　such　as　Mg-Al　based　alloys　for　automotive　power-train　system,　especially　summarized　the　effects　of　rare　earth　and　alkaline　earth　elements　on　the　heat　resistance　of　Mg-Al　based　alloys.　It　is　concluded　that　to　development　the　rare　earth　and　alkaline　earth　magnesium　alloys　with　high　performances　is　one　of　the　important　orientations　for　the　future　automotive　industry.